By Deborah Nnamdi
The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled a notorious sex trafficking syndicate that exploited young women under the pretense of offering job opportunities and producing social media content.
The command’s spokesperson, Olushola Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday in Akure, confirming the arrest of three suspects, including one Jayeola Joshua. Fifteen young women, aged between 20 and 26, were rescued from an apartment in the Alagbaka area of Akure, where they were reportedly housed for illicit activities.
Ayanlade said the operation was carried out by the command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large.
According to preliminary investigations, the group lured victims from different parts of the country with false promises of lucrative jobs — including domestic work, ushering, and foreign employment opportunities. Once recruited, the women were manipulated into creating explicit content and coerced into sexual exploitation.
“Further inquiry revealed that the victims were forced to send nude images and videos, which were shared with clients procuring sexual services,” Ayanlade said. “The principal suspect took the largest share of the proceeds, while the operation was disguised as producing ‘relationship content’ on social media to deceive the public.”
He added that all 15 victims have been taken to the Police Hospital in Akure for medical treatment, psychological evaluation, and counselling.
The police spokesperson also confirmed that the apartment used by the syndicate was specifically rented for the illegal operation. The Commissioner of Police has directed that the landlord be invited for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
The case has since been transferred to the command’s Gender Desk for further investigation and rehabilitation of the rescued victims.
Ayanlade said the Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate prosecution of all arrested suspects, emphasizing the command’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
“The CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks involved in human trafficking,” he added. “He also urged parents and guardians to verify the authenticity of job offers before allowing their children to travel, and encouraged the public to report suspicious activities to help prevent crime across the state.”
